BIBLE LESSON

“Many came to Jesus, and they were saying, `John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.' And many believed in him there.”

— John 10:41

John the Baptist did not need to perform signs to convince people to repent of their sins and prepare themselves for the coming of the Messiah. When asked if he was the Messiah, John quoted the Scriptures to explain his work.

Though John did not perform signs or work miracles, God gave John one advantage. The Bible says John was filled with the Holy Spirit before he was born. John taught and did what the Holy Spirit led him to do, and the Holy Spirit helped John's listeners believe the Scriptures and his words.

Jesus became the sign that John spoke the truth. As Jesus conducted His ministry, many people who had heard John preach realized that even though John performed no sign, he accurately foretold the Messiah's coming.

Jesus did everything John said the Messiah would do. Jesus did perform signs that He was the Messiah, for Jesus fed thousands of people, healed the lame, restored sight to the blind, cast out demons and raised the dead. In addition to His signs, Jesus gave people other reasons to believe Him.

First, Jesus said He did good works. Others might do great works and deceive people, but Jesus only and always did good works and His works pointed to His unity with the Father.

Second, Jesus pointed people to the Bible as the ultimate authoritative teaching about who He is. When Christians share their faith in Jesus, they appeal to the Bible as John and Jesus did, and the Holy Spirit within them helps people understand the Bible and believe in Jesus.